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St. Paul Saints: Their all-time 20 best promotions, Nos. 1-5

By Ben Goesslingbgoessling@pioneerpress.com

Posted:
05/16/2012 12:01:00 AM CDT

Updated:
05/16/2012 05:15:28 PM CDT

The St. Paul Saints begin their 20th season at Midway Stadium on Thursday night, May 17, continuing a tradition they started in 1993 when co-owner Mike Veeck brought minor league baseball back to the state capital for the first time since 1960.

Veeck -- the son of former major league owner Bill Veeck -- debuted his team with the slogan "Fun is Good," and for many of their early years, the Saints were both fun and good. And they packed Midway Stadium for much of the 1990s, drawing fans with outlandish promotions as their major league neighbor, the Minnesota Twins, languished in last place.

With the Saints' help, the Pioneer Press ranked the 20 best promotions in team history. Here are Nos. 1-5, and feel free to weigh in with your favorites.

5. RANDY MOSS HOOD ORNAMENT

The team tweaked the then-Vikings receiver in August 2003, naming its hood ornament giveaway for him after Moss was involved in an incident earlier that year in which he bumped a Minneapolis traffic officer with his car.

4. MICHAEL VICK CHEW TOY

In August 2007, the team gave away rubber dog chew toys in the shape of a pig with "Vick" and No. 7 on their backs, after then-Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick became embroiled in a federal investigation of his role in a dogfighting ring.

3. "TWEETING WIENER" BOXER SHORTS

The Saints lampooned another politician last summer when they issued "Tweeting wiener" boxer shorts with a picture of a bird snapping a photo of a hot dog with a Saints pennant.

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The gag was meant to reference New York Rep. Anthony Weiner, who resigned from Congress last June after tweeting a sexually suggestive picture of himself.

2. "LOVE BOAT" ANNIVERSARY

On May 27, 2006, the Saints claimed the rubber boats they gave out were issued to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the "Love Boat" TV show. But the boats, named the "Minnetonka Queen," were colored purple and yellow in a reference to the Vikings' famous 2005 bye-week outing on Lake Minnetonka, after which four players were charged with indecent conduct.

1. BOBBLEFOOT DOLLS

The Saints celebrated National Tap Dance Day in May 2008 by giving away 2,500 bobblefoot dolls. But didn't those figurines look like something else? The two feet peeked out from under a bathroom stall in a reference to Idaho senator Larry Craig's antics at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport.